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About belynch
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Epinions.com ID:
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belynch
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Location:
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Nyack, NY
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Member Since:
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Feb 21 '03
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A full-time consultant, a part-time writer, and a volunteer EMT.
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Activity Summary
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Reviews Written: 64
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Member Visits: 2,145
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Total Visits: 61,973
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About belynch
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I guess it's about time I update my profile
Someone asked me why I'm seemingly so "tough" on my ratings of properties (which is what 90% of my reviews are about). That's a good question, so I'll try and answer it, so you can make a more informed decision based on my reviews.
Overall
I try and keep a rating within the context of what you can expect. While a fairly average W hotel might be a ton nicer than a great Hampton Inn, I might give them both 4 stars. Why? Because when I walk into a hotel (or step on an airplane, or whatever the case may be) I have a preconceived notion about what I'm going to expect during my stay, based on what the brand stands for, and how they hotel is professionally rated. So, automatically, everyone starts off as 3 stars in my book. It's then up to the hotel to go above and beyond to reach that fourth or fifth star, or, in some cases, not meet my preconceived expectations and fall below 3 stars.
So, does this make it easier for an independant hotel, that I know nothing about, to get a higher rating? Admittedly, yes. Read my review on the Parker Inn as an example. I had no idea what to expect. I really didn't want to go on that trip, and knowing the area that it's in, I was seriously worried about what I'd find at the Parker Inn (i.e. chalk outlines). But this hotel came through with shining colors and blew me away.
So why didn't I give it five stars? Let me explain:
5 stars explained
5 stars are given out very judiciously. Unfortunately, I'll never give 5 stars to a Hampton Inn or a Courtyard unless something amazing happens there, because, let's face it, those are not five star properties.
A product or service that I give 5 stars to means that I'm comfortable giving my full endorsement. I put my name on it, and I'll tell you to go out of your way to experience it. It's something that is at the top of its class, of which I've experienced. And you should make a detour to experience it, if you can.
4 stars explained
4 stars are generally very good and the item I'm reviewing exceeded my expectations. This could be for a very personal reason (i.e. a staff member went above and beyond) but to me it was enough to demonstrate the level of service.
4 star hotels are hotels that I would definitely consider returning to and have earned my repeat business, and are definitely worth your consideration.
3 stars explained
3 star ratings mean that the item met my expectations. A Westin that is your average run in the mill Westin (read my review on the Westin Ft. Lauderdale for example) gets 3 stars. Same with a decent lower end property. When I rate something 3 stars I'm telling you that what you expect to find here is exactly what you'll get.
2 stars explained
Here's where we start to get into some muddy water. A 2 star rating is because the item failed to meet my expectations or I dealt with a problem that I felt was either systemic or was not corrected properly. When I'm rating a hotel I actually like to experience a problem, because it shows how well the staff reacts to it, and that is the true measure of how good a product or service is.
1 star explained
As few 5 stars that I give out, I probably give out even fewer 1 stars. If I give something one star it's because I experienced something that no one else should. A 1 star is my "red flag" and it's my way of saying that this product or hotel should not continue to be in business (as evidenced by the Sheraton World and the Hotel Syracuse).
If I give something a 1 star, avoid it.
So why trust me?
I'm not an expert on anything. I just travel enough to know more than the average person. Logging over 100,000 miles a year in the air, and over 50 hotel nights doesn't make me the most traveled person in the world, but it puts me up there.
And, having worked in the hospitality industry for six years, I have a good insight as to how things should be and where you have to draw the line between freak occurrence and a hotel problem. For example, read my Westin Arlington Gateway review. While that trip was deserving of a 2 star, I gave it 3 because I knew the potential was there to be better. In actuality, I was very impressed by the hotel and had full intention of giving it 4 stars. They just didn't manage a problem effectively, so I bumped them down to 3.
So that's the method to my madness. Hope that helped.
Where ever your travels take you I hope that they are special and safe.
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